Sunday, January 25, 2015

The moment that you all have been waiting for is HERE! You must all know already...how difficult it is for us to pick Top 10 Favorites. We hope that you are not feeling discouraged if you were not picked this time. As an avid challenge player myself, I know you have certainly put your heart and passion into your entry/entries.

3.Let it bewhite: these creations are far from boring...each one of them shows depth, interesting textures and dimensions! Wow!

4.White withmuted tones:beautiful and sophisticated, don't you think?

5. When in doubt, just add a strong dose ofREDto spice things up.

6. One layer beauties: it's hard to believe these are all one layer cards. These talented card-makers really know how to make the stamped/diecut images shine! We have so many inspiring entries that I have divided them into two groups.

Group 1:

Group 2:

How about a round of applause for these amazing entries? I apologize if I have missed seeing your entry that belongs to the above categories. I only wish I have more eyes and time...!

Along with the panel of judges (Dr. John and Stephanie), I have a very difficult task ahead--picking Top 10 Favorites and HMs! If your card is featured here today, you are definitely a winner in our eyes!

Thanks so much for your participation and support! For the Spotlight Feature on the 25th, we will announce the winners and HMs. As usual, one of the Top 10 favorites will receive a $25 Simon Says Stamp Gift voucher. A random winner (from all of the entries) will receive$30 Gift Certificate Coupon code for Art Impression Stamps, thanks to the generosity of our guest designerPiali.

Sunday, January 11, 2015

This is another exciting day in our challenge blog. Each time I present to you a new guest designer, I feel like that I am introducing a new friend to you! Indeed, today's guest was an old stamping friend that I "met" through Hero Arts Flickr. Please welcome Judy Marinofrom Judy's Card Corner! Judy's creations are absolutely delightful! There is always a sense of sweetness in her clean and simple designs. Way back around 2009-2010, Judy had won the One Layer Challenge over Hero Arts; I took note and have been a fan of her work since....let's hear it from Judy!

Judy: Hello, friends! I'm so excited to be here today as a guest designer for Virginia's View! I am so grateful to Virginia for inviting me. I am beyond honored!
For my clean and simple, one-layered projects today, I revisited an idea that had been done before (I know Virginia and I have both done it!)...I decided to jazz up a set of blank thank you notes from the local craft store using one of my favorite stamp sets.

Judy: I purchased this package of thank you notes (my "clean slate") at the local craft store for $1.50. Inspired by the floral photos in Virginia's challenge photo, I decided to ink up my WPlus9 "Folk Art Florals" set and individualize a few cards. Here is what I came up with all together.

For my first card, I combined some Hero Arts inks and a Martha Stewart border punch for a true folk art floral card. I masked the inside of the card in order to run the ink pad cross the bottom so the border would stand out.

Judy: For my second card, I masked the center of the note card with a Post-It, then stamped a Hero Arts/Basic Grey background stamp to make a border around the edge of the card. I added score lines to accentuate the border, then stamped the flowers (inked with LePlume markers).

Judy: For my next card, I masked the center of the entire card to cover the sentiment, then stamped several flowers using coral and khaki Simon Says Stamp inks. Once I removed the mask, I stamped two extra leaves (using Hero Arts soft granite ink) and added score lines to accentuate the center. I like adding score lines -- I think they add some dimension and interest to an otherwise flat card.

Judy:I used several techniques on my last card. First I masked the sentiment with a Post-It. Next, I inked the inside of an embossing folder with Her Arts soft pool shadow ink. I ran it through my Cuttlebug, then removed the mask and stamped the flowers in the corner.

Judy: Finally, I once again added some score lines for added interest. While there is more going on with this card's texture, it is still one layer and there is still plenty of white space.
What I love about these cards is that they are all flat, easy to mail, and all unique. I hope to make more cards using this package of thank you notes...if I do, I'll be sure to link them up to the challenge! I hope I've inspired you to play with your favorite stamp set using different colors and layouts. I can't wait to see what "clean slate" projects you come up with!

Well, aren't you in awe of Judy's projects? Her write-up of the creative process is thorough and clear. I feel that we are right in her stamping corner! Judy's way of using white space and dimensions (also the savvy purchase of the inexpensive envelops) are inspiring.

Please stop by Judy's blog and give her some blog love. Thanks for stopping by!

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

This girl has mad (I mean, MAD) coloring skills and her stamping techniques are absolutely top-notch. With numerous stamping winning titles under her belt, she is....
the wonderful Alice Wertz from Alice's {Little} Wonderland.

Here are Alice's amazing projects.

Alice: I used Jane's Doodles Read All Bout It set. The image is colored
with Copic markers. I masked the girl before stamping the stack of books behind
her. It's an "almost" one layer card if you don't count the washi tape
sentiment. =)

Alice: In this card, I used stamps from My Favorite Things. The girl is from Class Act set and the sentiment is from
Mason Jar Labels set. It's colored with Copic markers and this one is hopefully
good for the "white space" feature.

close-up

Alice: Thanks so much once again for the invitation! I had such fun making these
cards for your challenge! =)

Don't you just wish you could watch Alice doing the coloring? I was lucky to have met Alice in San Francisco (August, 2013). Both of us were born and raised in Taiwan, so there is that extra special connection and bond that we have. We chatted mostly with each other in Mandarin, except when we had to translate for our non-Chinese speaking husbands and my kids!

Virginia and Alice

Alice is just as sweet as her creations and is also very humble and kind. We are truly blessed to have such a talented card-maker amongst us! Please stop by Alice's blogand leave her some blog love!

Sunday, January 4, 2015

Hello! Are you inspired to create for the latest challenge "Clean Slate"?

Today we are in for a real treat as we have a special guest--Piali Biswas ( Touch of Creation). I have known Piali through our DT and blogging for a few years now. She always wowed me with her artistic flair and design sense. With Piali's skills and techniques, her handmade cards are truly outstanding. No wonder that Piali is a much sought-after designer and has won numerous competitions and challenges. Let's hear it from Piali...

Piali: Thank you Virginia
for having me as your guest designer. It’s a true honor to be here!!!

Love this
month’s theme…one of my favorite!! I love CAS cards and especially cards with
lots of white space.

I had a blast
creating for this challenge, I have not one but 4 cards to share.

First of all, HAPPY
NEW YEAR everyone….

Piali: A super simple
new year’s card, very easy to mass produce. I used Avery Elle –Bunting stamp
set and sentiment from CASual Fridays Stamps for this card. I heat embossed the
strings, dots and stars with WOW embossing powder .Just added few tiny clear rhinestones for
extra shine.

Next card is
simple water-colored one….

Piali: I heat embossed
the Stampendous image on watercolor paper and water colored it with distress
inks…super simple!!!

Next one is one
of my favorite…

Piali: Simple one
layer card!! The gorgeous rose stamp is from Waltzing Mouse.

Just added a
few Gold shine splatters.

My last card is
a cute one using patterned paper…

Piali: Sometimes PP
can be used for CAS cards.

I just added a
sentiment from Avery Elle stamps and few tiny gold diecut hearts.

Hope you liked
these cards!!!Can’t wait to see your
take on this FAB challenge.

Thanks again
,Virginia!!!

Wow, isn't Piali amazing!? Because she is also super generous, Piali has a special giveaway. One of the players (randomly chosen from all players, not just Top 10 favorites) will receive a $30 Gift Certificate Coupon code for Art Impression Stamps. The winner will be announced on the 25th along with Top 10 favorites and HM. The more cards you enter, the more chances you will have to win Piali's giveaway. Please stop byPiali's blog and leave her some blog love!

How to Play

This monthly card-making challenge blog will run for 18 days and there will be a SPOTLIGHT feature of Top 10 Favorites on the 25th. Any style and levels are most welcome!

Goals:

1. to foster the love of stamping/card making among the on line community

2. to grow as a stamper/card-maker regardless of level and experience

3. to make new friends and encourage the camaraderie amongst the participants/blog followers.

You are encouraged to link up as many as projects as you like. Cards with paper, stamps and inks involved are welcome! If the linked project is not related to the challenge, it will be deleted. Don't have a blog? No problem! Any link (Flickr, FB page, Splitcoaststampers, Pinterest...) is welcome!

The Top 5 selection criteria will be based on: 1. Originality (30%)2. Execution (30%)3. Craftsmanship (20%)4. Presentation (10%) 5. Wow factor (10%)Among the Top 10 Fav, there will be a random draw for a lucky (and talented) winner who will then receive the top prize. In order to qualify for the top prize, your project has to be NEW (not linking back to a previously made project). You are welcome to combine other challenges, please limit to your total number of challenges no more than 4.

Copyright

Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog's author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Virginia's View Challenge with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. Thank you.